Four SA players in chase for $10m

With the field at this week’s Deutsche Bank Championship limited to the top 100 players in the FedEx Cup standings, four South Africans have done enough to qualify at this stage of the season.

Tim Clark, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Charl Schwartzel all did enough by the end of The Barclays last weekend to ensure that they continue their march towards top honours, and a share of the $10-million prize fund, at the end of the play-offs.

Schwartzel moved up seven places on the overall standings with a share of 30th place on the weekend and now sits in 53rd. The world No 21, who celebrates his 30th birthday this Sunday, carded a final round one-under-par 70 for a tournament total of four-under-par.

His round got off to a good start with a birdie at the par-four first but that effort was cancelled out with a bogey at 11 before another birdie on the par-five 17th saw him end the tournament with a 280 stroke total through four rounds.

Clark is the highest placed South African on the list at 38th, although his participation this week could be in doubt due to an elbow injury, while Els sits one position behind him. Goosen moved into the top-100 thanks to a tie for 66th on the weekend and is now in 96th place on the overall standings.